Printer for printing sets of color adjusted images

ABSTRACT

A printer and a printing method are capable of greatly improving printing efficiency. In a printer and a printing method for printing a first image based on supplied first print data on a printing medium, when a predetermined operation mode is selected, second print data for a frame image formed by arranging second images of several kinds obtained by applying image processing different from each other to the first image, in a predetermined arrangement pattern and then, the frame image based on the second print data is printed on the printing medium. Therefore, it is possible to greatly shorten the time for obtaining a printing medium in which the image processing is performed in a desired sate and to previously avoid the printing medium from being wasted. Thus, it is possible to realize the printer and the printing method capable of greatly improving the printing efficiency.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/517,149,filed Mar. 2, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This present invention relates to a printer and a printing method, andmore particularly, is suitably applied to a printer and a printingmethod for printing a color image based on input print data on aprinting medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

This type of printer can perform image adjustment processing, such ascolor adjustment and lightness adjustment, on a color image based onprint data, which is supplied from a personal computer in accordancewith operations by an operator, by applying predetermined signalprocessing to the print data.

In actual, in the case where, for example, the color adjustment out ofthe above described image adjustment processing is performed, thisprinter can fine-adjust the tint of a color image by changing levels ofprimary color signals for red (R), green (G), and blue (B) forming printdata, in accordance with the adjustment by an operator.

In general, rising signal levels of three primary colors has acharacteristic that colors (red, green, blue) shown by primary colorsignals are emphasized, and lowering the signal levels has acharacteristic that complementary colors (cyan, magenta, yellow) ofcolors shown by the primary color signals are emphasized.

However, for an operator who adjusts a color image based on print datato a desired tint different from the present tint in the above describedcolor adjustment, it is difficult to determine which color should beselected among three primary colors and further, how much a signal levelof a selected color should be changed. Therefore, the operator actuallyadjusts the present tint to a desired tint by his intuition.

As one method of solving the above described problems, a printer isproposed which is configured so that whenever the image adjustmentprocessing are updated in accordance with operations by an operator, theupdated image adjustment is reflected on a color image and the reflectedresult can be output as a video signal to a monitor which is connectedas an external unit. Thereby, the operator can perform the abovedescribed image adjustment processing while visually confirming a colorimage based on the video signal displayed on the monitor.

Since a method of mixing colors using the additive process is applied tothe above described color image based on a video signal displayed on amonitor and a method of mixing colors using the subtractive process isapplied to a color image actually printed on a printing medium, a tintof a color image subjected to image adjustment processing may slightlydiffer between the case where the color image is displayed on a monitorand the case where the color image is actually printed on a printingmedium.

For example, since the Japanese skin color is comprised of red, green,and blue with a higher ratio in this order among three primary colors,raising a blue signal level actually makes the skin color pinkish, notbluish, and lowering a red signal level actually makes the skin coloryellowish and whitish, not cyanic (light bluish). This is the reason whythe color adjustment processing is very difficult.

An operator purposes obtaining a printing medium having a color imageprinted thereon, and a color image actually printed on the printingmedium frequently has a tint different from a tint desired by theoperator even if the above described color adjustment processing isperformed on the basis of a color image displayed on a monitor. In thiscase, it is necessary to repeat the above described color adjustmentprocessing many times until the tint desired by the operator is obtainedand further, the operator has to print the color image whenever thecolor adjustment is performed, in order to visually confirm the tint. Asa result, problems occur that the printing medium is wasted and the timealso wastefully elapses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide aprinter, printing method, and printing medium capable of significantlyimproving the printing efficiency.

The foregoing object and other objects of the invention have beenachieved by the provision of a printer for printing a first image basedon supplied first print data on a printing medium. The printercomprises: an image processing means for applying predetermined imageprocessing to first print data; and a printing means for printing thefirst image based on the first print data subjected to the imageprocessing, on the printing medium. The image processing means generatessecond print data for a frame image which is formed by arranging secondimages of several kinds obtained by applying image processing differentfrom each other to the first image, in a predetermined arrangementpattern, when a predetermined operation mode is selected, and theprinting means prints the frame image based on the second print data onthe printing medium.

As a result, the printer allows an operator to easily determine atendency of the image-quality adjustment according to the imageprocessing of the first image while visually confirming each secondimage arranged on the basis of the first image in the frame imageprinted on the printing medium. Thus, the time for obtaining a printingmedium in which the image processing is performed in a desired state canbe greatly shortened and the printing medium can be avoided in advancefrom being wasted.

Moreover, the present invention provides a printing method of printing afirst image based on supplied first print data on a printing medium,which comprises: a first step of applying predetermined image processingto the first print data; and a second step of printing a first imagebased on the first print data subjected to the image processing, on aprinting medium. When a predetermined mode is selected, in the firststep, second print data for a frame image which is formed by arrangingsecond images of several kinds obtained by applying image processingdifferent from each other to the first image, in a predeterminedarrangement pattern is generated, and in the second step, a frame imagebased on the second print data is printed on the printing medium.

As a result, the printing method allows an operator to easily determinea tendency of the image quality adjustment according to the imageprocessing of the first image while visually confirming each secondimage arranged on the basis of the first image, in the frame imageprinted on the printing medium. Thus, the time for obtaining a printingmedium in which the image processing is performed in a desired state canbe greatly shortened and the printing medium can be previously avoidedfrom being wasted.

The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals or characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer of thepresent embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart explaining a processing procedure ofcolor-adjustment guide printing according to the present embodiment;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are schematic plane views showing a printing medium havinga color-adjustment guide image printed thereon; and

FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic plane views each showing a printing mediumhaving a frame image printed thereon, according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings:

(1) Configuration of a Printer of This Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a printer to which the present invention is applied as awhole, and is configured so that when predetermined print data D_(p) issupplied from a not-illustrated personal computer, a color image basedon the print data D_(p) is adjusted to a desired tint in accordance withoperations by an operator and then, the color-adjusted color image isprinted on a predetermined printing medium (not illustrated).

In this printer 1, an operation input unit 2 comprised of a liquidcrystal display (LCD) display section 2A and an input key section 2B isconnected with a CPU 3, so that an operator can supply various commandsto the CPU 3 with the operation input unit 2.

The items of various operations are arranged and displayed on the LCDdisplay section 2A of the operation input unit 2 as display items sothat an operator can transmit a command relating to a display itemdesignated out of these display items with the input key section 2B, tothe CPU 3. Moreover, the input key section 2B is provided with aprinting mode key and a color-adjustment guide mode key (both are notillustrated), so that the CPU 3 can receive an operation mode of theprinter 1 designated with these mode designation keys.

Actually, in the printer 1, when the print data D_(P) is supplied from apersonal computer through an interface 4 in the printing mode, the CPU 3divides the print data D_(P) into color print data D_(PR), D_(PG), andD_(PB) corresponding to colors (R, G, B) and writes them in theircorresponding frame memories 5A to 5C every one print image, inaccordance with the command C1 supplied from the operator.

Then, the CPU 3 reads the color print data D_(PR), D_(PG), and D_(PB)out of the respective frame memories 5A to 5C at predetermined timingsand then, transmits them to an image processing section 6.

The image processing section 6 is provided with a color conversion tablehaving a standard printing characteristic for each color, which performscolor adjustment correspondingly to an adjustment curve set to eachcolor before and after color adjustment processing and then, executesthe processing for isolating unnecessary data (so-called masking). Then,the image processing section 6 applies the density duty time conversion(so-called gamma compensation) to the obtained color print data using aset predetermined heat compensation coefficient and then, transmits theresultant print image data D_(PR1), D_(PG1), and D_(PB1) to a printingsection 7.

The printing section 7 is configured so as to be able to convert theprint image data D_(PR1), D_(PG1), and D_(PB1) into current signals,then, supply the current signals to a plurality of exothermic resistorswhich is provided on a head surface of a heat transfer head, in order tomake the exothermic resistors produce heat and thereby print a desiredcolor image based on the print image data D_(PR1), D_(PG1), and D_(PB1)using the produced heat, on a printing surface of the printing medium.

Note that, in the printer 1, a video output section 8 having aninterface for external connection is connected to the CPU 3. The videooutput section 8 is configured so as to convert the print image dataD_(PR1), D_(PG1), and D_(PB1) transmitted from the image processingsection 6 into video signals according to a predetermined signal systemand output them under the control of the CPU 3.

In this printer 1, in addition to the above described configuration,when an operator specifies a color-adjustment guide mode with theoperation input unit 2 in order to perform a color image adjustment on acolor image based on the print data D_(PR), D_(PG), and D_(PB), the CPU3 reads a predetermined color-adjustment program from its internal ROM(not illustrated) and executes the program.

First, the CPU 3 controls the image processing section 6 in accordancewith the color adjustment program and thereby, changes the parameters ofsignal levels of the print image data D_(PR1), D_(PG1), and D_(PB1)generated by the image processing section 6. Then, it sets the parametervalue (R, G, B) corresponding to the signal levels as initializationvalue (0, 0, 0) and further, changes the parameter values bypredetermined amount (e.g. by three) in the plus direction or minusdirection for each color on the basis of the initialization values andthereby sets the obtained plural parameter values (R, G, B) as (+3, 0,0), (−3, 0, 0), (0, +3, 0), (0, −3, 0), (0, 0, +3), and (0, 0, −3).

Since the predetermined amount for changing the initialization value isset to a value “3” almost a half of the maximum values (e.g. ±7) in theplus and minus directions in a range of parameter values which can beused for the color adjustment, a tint change is prevented from beingextremely increased among a plurality of color images displayed on aprinting medium after printed, and the operator can easily and visuallyconfirm the state and tendency of the tint change.

In this case, a setting item corresponding to image adjustmentprocessing (in this case, color adjustment processing) is displayed onthe LCD display section 2A of the operation input unit 2, and theoperators can change an initialization value to set parameter values(including the initialization value) which are set and input to thesetting items, by the same amount with the input key section 2B.

In this way, the image processing section 6 can generate a color image(hereafter referred to as present set image) based on the print dataD_(PR), D_(PG), and D_(PB) corresponding to an initialization valueunder the control of the CPU 3 and moreover, generate color images(hereafter referred to as setting changed images) which are obtained byapplying the color adjustment in accordance with the parameter values tothe present set image.

Moreover, under the control of the CPU 3, the image processing section 6reduces the present set image and all the plural setting changed imagesinto a predetermined size, thereafter arranges them in a predeterminedarrangement pattern in which the plurality of setting changed imagessurrounds the present set image, and adds the parameter values under therespectively corresponding present set image and setting changed images,and thereby can generate one frame image (hereafter referred to ascolor-adjustment guide image), and transmits the color-adjustment guideimage to the printing section 7 as print image data D_(PR1), D_(PG1),and D_(PB1).

In this way, the printing section 7 can print a color-adjustment guideimage based on the print image data D_(PR1), D_(PG1), and D_(PB1)supplied from the image processing section 6 on a printing surface of apredetermined printing medium under the control of the CPU 3. Then, thepresent set image is displayed in the center of thus obtained printingsurface of the printing medium and the plural setting changed images arealso displayed in the predetermined arrangement pattern centering thepresent set image, and moreover the parameter values are displayed underthe respectively corresponding present set image and setting changedimages.

Thereafter, in accordance with the operations by the operator, the CPU 3updates and sets the parameter values by the same amount for each color(red, green, blue) with respect to the present set image and the settingchanged images in the color-adjustment guide image and then, controlsthe image processing section 6 and thereby applies the above-describedcolor adjustment processing to the present set image and the settingchanged images in accordance with the respective updated parametervalues.

As a result, the printing section 7 displays the present set image andthe plural setting changed images subjected to the color adjustment inaccordance with the updated parameter values, and also displays theupdated parameter values under the respectively corresponding presentset image and setting changed images.

(2) Processing Procedure RT1 of Color-Adjustment-Guide Printing

When a color-adjustment guide mode is actually selected in accordancewith operations by an operator in the printer 1, the CPU 3 starts theprocessing procedure RTl of color-adjustment guide printing shown inFIG. 2 in step SP0, and in following step SP1, prints a color-adjustmentguide image which is a frame image centering a present set image whichis set to an initialization value, on a printing surface of a printingmedium.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the color-adjustment guide image F0 printed onthe printing surface of the printing medium, a present set image P0 isdisplayed in the center and plural setting changed images P1 to P6obtained by applying the color adjustment in plus or minus direction foreach color (red, green, blue) to the present set image P0 are displayedso as to surrounding the present set image P0.

In this case, a parameter value set to the present set image P0 is equalto an initialization value (0, 0, 0) and parameter values set to thesetting changed images P1 to P6 are equal to (+3, 0, 0), (−3, 0, 0), (0,+3, 0), (0, −3, 0), (0, 0, +3) and (0, 0, −3) respectively obtained byadding 3in the plus direction or the minus direction for each color.

Then, the CPU 3 proceeds to step SP2 to judge whether the present setimage P0 has a tint desired by an operator or not and then, directlyproceeds to step SP5 when an affirmative result is obtained to completethe processing procedure RTl of the color-adjustment guide printing.

On the contrary, obtaining a negative result in step SP2 represents thatthe present set image P0 has a tint not desired by the operator. In thiscase, the CPU 3 proceeds to step SP3 to update the parameter value ofthe present set image P0 on the base of tints of the setting changedimages P1 to P6.

For example, when the operator desires a gray background and visuallyconfirms that the setting changed image P2 has a background colorclosest to the desired gray among the setting changed images P1 to P6and its red color should be slightly suppressed, the CPU 3 updates theparameter value of the present set image P0 to (−4, 0, 0) so as toslightly further suppress the red color of the parameter value (−3, 0)of the setting changed image P2

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, in a color-adjustment guide image F1, aparameter value set to the present set image P0 becomes equal to (−4, 0,0), and parameter values set to the setting changed images P1 to P6respectively become equal to (−1, 0, 0), (−7, 0, 0), (−4, +3, 0), (−4,−3, 0), (−4, 0, +3), and (−4, 0, −3), respectively, by adding ±3 to eachcolor (red, green blue) of the setting value of the present set imageP0.

Then, the CPU 3 proceeds to step SP4 to execute printing using theupdated parameter value and then, returns to step SP2 to judge whetherthe present set image printed on the printing medium has a tint desiredby the operator or not.

When an affirmative result is obtained in step SP2, the CPU 3 directlyadvances to step SP5 to complete the processing procedure RTl ofcolor-adjustment guide printing.

To the contrary, obtaining a negative result in step SP2 represents thatthe operator does not obtain a desired tint yet although the parametervalue is updated. In this case, the CPU 3 repeats the processing ofsteps SP3, SP4, and SP2 until the present set image has the desiredtint.

Specifically, as for the color-adjustment guide image Fl shown in FIG.4, the operator visually confirms that a color of a background imageclosest to desired gray is neutral of the present set image P0 and thesetting changed images P2 and P3 out of the plural setting changedimages P1 to P6, the operator updates the parameter value of the presentset image P0 to (−5, 0, +2) by obtaining a neutral tint of the parametervalue (−4, 0, 0) of the present set image P0, the parameter value (−4,0, +3) of the setting changed image P2, and the parameter value (−7, 0,0) of the setting changed image P3.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, in a color-adjustment guide image F2, aparameter value set to the present set image P0 becomes equal to (−5, 0,+2), and parameter values set to the setting changed images P1 to P6respectively become equal to (−2, 0, +2), (−7, 0, +2), (−5, +3, +2),(−5, −3, +2), (−5, 0, +5), and (−5, 0, −1) obtained by adding ±3 to eachcolor (red, green, blue) of the setting value of the present set imageP0.

As a result, as for the color-adjustment guide image F2 shown in FIG. 5,the setting changed image P3 is visually confirmed out of the presentset image P0 and the plurality of setting changed images P1 to P6, asone which has the background image closest to desired gray and theoptimum portrait color.

(3) Operations and Advantages of This Embodiment

In the above described configuration, the printer 1 generates pluralsetting changed images obtained by applying the color adjustment using apredetermined parameter value for each color (red, green, blue) to apresent set image based on print data D_(P), in the color-adjustmentguide mode. Then, it prints a color-adjustment guide image obtained byarranging the setting changed images in a predetermined arrangementpattern so as to surround the present set image, on a printing medium.

As for the color-adjustment guide image printed on the printing medium,the plural setting changed images arranged around the present set imageare color images obtained by changing tints of the present set image inplus or minus direction for each color. Therefore, an operator caneasily and visually confirm a state in which tints of setting changedimages are changed so as to be successive on the basis of the tint ofthe present set image.

Moreover, in the color-adjustment guide image printed on a printingmedium, parameter values are numerically displayed under therespectively corresponding present set image and plural setting changedimages. Therefore, an operator can quantitatively confirm the differencein tints among the present set image and the setting changed image andas a result, he can grasp a degree of color adjustment on the basis ofthe parameter values.

Then, the operator selects a setting changed image having a tint closestto a desired tint, out of the plural setting changed images, and updatesparameter value within a settable range on the basis of a parametervalue set to the selected setting changed image. Thereby, a tint of apresent set image is adjusted using the updated parameter value.

In this case, tints of the plural setting changed images are alsoadjusted on the basis of the updated parameter value. Therefore, whenprinting an obtained color-adjustment guide image on a printing medium,the operator can visually confirm the states of the present set imageand setting changed images subjected to the color adjustment.

Thus, whenever the operator updates the parameter value by the abovementioned method, the tint of the present set image is adjusted and thetints of the setting change images arranged around the present set imageare also adjusted. Therefore, the operator can easily find the tendencyto obtain a desired tint by visually confirming tints of these pluralsetting changed images. As a result, it is possible to perform coloradjustment in a very short time and with a small number of prints, ascompared to a case of printing only a present set image.

According to the above described configuration, in the color-adjustmentguide mode, a color-adjustment guide image is generated by arranging theplural setting changed images changed so that tints are successive onthe basis of the present set image based on the printing data D_(P),around the present set image in a predetermined arrangement pattern. Andthe color-adjustment guide image is printed on a printing medium.Thereby, an operator can determine a tendency of color adjustment of thepresent set image while visually confirming the tints of the settingchanged image arranged around the present set image. Thus, it ispossible to greatly shorten the time required for color adjustment andrealize the printer 1 capable of avoiding a printing medium from beingwasted.

Moreover, when an operator performs color adjustment of a present setimage by updating the present set image while visually confirming acolor-adjustment guide image printed on a printing medium by the printer1, the tint of each setting changed image is also changed in the sameadjustment and at the same change rate as the updated present set image.Thereby, whenever the above described update is performed, not only thetint of the present set image but also the tints of the setting changedimages become close to a desired tint. Therefore, it is possible tofurther shorten the time required for color adjustment.

(4) Other Embodiment

Note that, in the above described embodiment, the print data (the firstprint data) D_(P) is supplied to the printer 1 from the personalcomputer. However, the present invention is not restricted to this caseand the print data D_(P) can be supplied from a video recorder. Further,the print data D_(P) can be reproduced from a recording medium such as afloppy disk, a personal computer (PC) card, a magnetic optical (MO) diskand then supplied to the printer 1.

Moreover, in the above described embodiment, the present invention isapplied to the heat-transfer-type printer 1 provided with the printingsection (printing means) 7 having the heat-transfer head. However, thepresent invention is not restricted to the above described case. Inshort, the present invention can be widely applied to other types ofprinter (e.g. ink-jet printer and laser printer) as long as theapparatuses are printers to print a present set image (first image)based on supplied print data D_(P) on a printing medium.

Furthermore, in the above described embodiment, in the color-adjustmentguide images (frame images) F0 to F2, the present set image (firstimage) P0 is arranged in the center and the plural setting changedimages (second images) P1 to P6 are arranged centering the present setimage P0 in an arrangement pattern. However, the present invention isnot restricted to the above described case. Another arrangement patterncan be applied as a arrangement pattern of the setting changed images P1to P6 as long as an operator can visually confirm the image processingof the setting changed images P1 to P6 on the basis of the present setimage P0 to be actually printed. In addition, the number of settingchanged images as second images can be optionally set in accordance withan arrangement pattern.

Furthermore, in the above described embodiment, in the color-adjustmentguide images (frame images) F0 to F2, parameter values set to thepresent set image (first image) and plural setting changed images(second images) P1 to P6 are displayed under the respectivelycorresponding present set image P0 and plural setting changed images P1to P6. However, the present invention is not restricted to the abovedescribed case. The parameter values set as described above can bedisplayed at any positions in the color-adjustment guide images F0 to F2as long as an operator can visually confirm that each parameter valuecorrespond to any of the present set image P0 and the setting changedimages P1 to P6.

Furthermore, in the above described embodiment, the operation input unit2 of the printer 1 is utilized to select a color-adjustment guide mode(predetermined operation mode), input various parameter values or thelike. However, the present invention is not restricted to the abovedescribed case. An input section (including a keyboard and a mouse) ofan externally-connected personal computer (not illustrated) can be usedinstead of the operation input unit 2. Further, it is also possible togenerate the present set image and the setting changed images and form aframe image in which parameters are also displayed, with theexternally-connected personal computer (not illustrated), and to printthe frame image with the printer 1.

Furthermore, in the above described embodiment, the image processingsection 6 provided in the printer 1 is used as an image processing meansfor applying predetermined image processing to the supplied print data(first print data) D_(P). In short, the present invention can be widelyapplied to various types of image processing means such as a personalcomputer, as long as it is possible to generate the print image data(second print data) D_(PR1), D_(PG1), and D_(PB1) for thecolor-adjustment guide images (frame images) F0 to F2 obtained byarranging the plural setting changed images (second images) P1 to P6obtained by applying the color-adjustments (image-processing) differentfrom each other to the present set image (first image) P0, in apredetermined arrangement pattern when a color-adjustment guide mode(predetermined operation mode) is selected.

Further, as the image processing to be applied to the print data D_(P)in the image processing section (image processing means) 6, imageprocessing having image-quality adjusting functions such as lightnessadjustment, masking, γcompensation, enlargement/reduction, sharpnessadjustment, or trimming, can be utilized, other than the coloradjustment.

In this case, when a predetermined operation mode is selected,processing corresponding to image processing having the selected imagequality adjusting function is performed. Note that, in a printer whichdoes not perform color adjustment processing, a present set image (firstimage) based on supplied image data D_(P) can be a black-and-whiteimage, not a color image.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when an operation mode corresponding tolightness adjustment processing is selected, parameter values on thebasis of a brightness-signal level of the print data D_(P) is set to thepresent set image (first image) P10 and the setting changed images(second images) P11 and P12. When assuming that the present set imageP10 has normal brightness (parameter value “0”), an advantage that theprinting efficiency is greatly improved is obtained similarly to thecase of this embodiment, by printing a lightness-adjustment guide imageF3 in which the setting changed image P11 having a high brightness(parameter value “+7”) is displayed at the right side and the settingchanged image P12 (parameter value “−7”) having a low brightness isdisplayed at the left side on the basis of the present set image P10, ona printing medium.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, when an operation mode corresponding toenlargement/reduction processing is selected, parameter values on thebasis of the size of a frame image based on the print data D_(P) is setto a present set image (first image) P20 and setting changed images(second images) P21 and P22. When assuming that the present set imageP20 has a normal size (parameter value “100”), an advantage that theprinting efficiency is greatly improved is obtained similarly to thecase of this embodiment, by printing an enlargement/reduction guideimage F4 in which the enlarged (parameter value “141”) setting changedimage P21 is displayed at the right side and the reduced (parametervalue “70”) setting changed image P22 is displayed at the left side onthe basis of the present set image P20, on a printing medium.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, when an operation mode corresponding tosharpness processing is selected, parameter values on the basis of thesharpness of the outline of a frame image based on the pint data D_(P)is set to a present set image (first image) P30 and setting changedimages (second images) P31 and P32. When assuming that the present setimage P30 is a standard (parameter value “0”), it is possible to obtainan advantage that the printing efficiency is greatly improved similarlyto the case of this embodiment, by printing a sharpness guide image F5in which the setting changed image P31 having a emphasized outline(parameter value “+7”) is displayed at the right side and the settingchanged image P32 having a fuzzy outline (parameter value “−7”) isdisplayed at the left side on the basis of the present set image P30, ona printing medium.

As described above, according to the present invention, a printer forprinting a first image based on supplied first print data on a printingmedium comprises: an image processing means for applying predeterminedimage processing to the first print data; and a printing means forprinting a first image based on the first print data subjected to theimage processing, on the printing medium. When a predetermined operationmode is selected, the image processing means generates second print datafor a frame image formed by arranging second images of several kindsobtained by applying image processing different from each other to thefirst image, in a predetermined arrangement pattern, and the printingmeans prints the frame image based on the second print data on theprinting medium. Thereby, it is possible to greatly shorten the time forobtaining a printing medium to which the image processing is applied ina desired sate and to avoid the printing medium from being wasted. Thus,it is possible to realize a printer capable of greatly improving theprinting efficiency.

Moreover, according to the present invention, a printing method forprinting a first image based on supplied first print data on a printingmedium, comprises: the first step of applying predetermined imageprocessing to the first print data; and the second step of printing afirst image based on the first print data subjected to the imageprocessing, on the printing medium. When a predetermined operation modeis selected, in the first step, second print data for a frame imageformed by arranging second images of several kinds obtained by applyingimage processing different from each other to the first image, in apredetermined arrangement pattern is generated, and in the second step,a frame image based on the second image data is printed on the printingmedium. Thereby, it is possible to greatly shorten the time forobtaining a printing medium to which the image processing is applied ina desired state and to avoid the printing medium from being wasted.Thus, it is possible to realize a printing method capable of greatlyimproving the printing efficiency.

While there has been described in connection with the preferredembodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be aimed, therefore, tocover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A printer for printing a color corrected image on a printing mediumbased on supplied first image data, the printer comprising: an operationinput device for selecting color image processing for image data; animage processor for applying color processing to the first image data,wherein the image processor can adjust Red (R), Green (G) and Blue (B)color values of the image data according to a current setting; whereinthe image processor applies color processing to the first image data byadjusting the first image data by an initialization value, and byadjusting each of R, G and B color values by +N and −N to generate afirst set of six additional images; a printing unit for printing theprocessed first image data and the first set of six additional images,such that the first set of six additional images are arranged around thefirst image data processed by the initialization value; and whereinbased on a user selection of a preferred image and a desired colorprocessing entered on the operation input device, the image processorgenerates a processed preferred image, and a second set of sixadditional images by adjusting each of R, G and B color values for theprocessed preferred image by +N and −N, and the printing unit prints thesecond set of six additional images arranged around the processedpreferred image.